The prison corridor stretches long… concrete walls cold… fluorescent lights flickering faintly— tzz… tzz…
The air carries a sharp disinfectant smell.
Somewhere behind the doors, a distant metal clang echoes— clang…
Hayashi walks forward.
Measured steps— tap…
tap…
tap…
His posture perfectly straight… shoulders relaxed… yet his presence weighs heavy.
A staff officer follows slightly behind… maintaining a respectful distance.
A bunch of keys at his waist gives off a faint jingle— chhan… chhan…
They take a turn… and the canteen opens up.
A large hall… metal tables… fixed benches… trays scraping lightly— scrrr…
Around twenty prisoners sit scattered.
The moment Hayashi steps in—
One by one… they stop.
Spoons freeze mid-air.
Conversations cut.
Then—
Chairs push back— scrrrrk—
All of them stand.
Not in a line… but in a unified motion.
And then—
They bow.
Deep.
Synchronized.
Hayashi stops.
Observes for a second.
Then slowly—
He bows as well.
Same depth.
Same calm.
As if… without words… the respect is returned equally.
He straightens.
His eyes scan the hall slowly.
Left… right…
Reading faces.
The noise doesn’t return… everyone is still watching him.
Then—
His gaze locks.
On one table…
Kento.
A calm, almost grounded presence… different from the rest.
Hayashi walks toward him— tap… tap…
Stops at the table.
Pulls the chair— scrrr—
And sits.
Kento had been eating… his fork slows… then stops.
He looks up.
Eye contact.
Hayashi speaks without delay—
“Where is he…”
Low voice.
Direct.
Kento finishes chewing… then replies calmly—
“He’s still inside the cage.”
“Good.”
Short.
Clean.
Hayashi stands immediately.
Chair slides back— scrrr—
He turns…
And starts walking again.
The corridor stretches out in front of him again.
This time… eyes follow him from behind every cell.
Some grip the bars…
Some stay hidden in the shadows…
But all of them are watching.
Hayashi’s pace remains unchanged.
Not fast.
Not slow.
No trace of fear.
Just steady movement— tap…
tap…
He stops in front of a specific cell.
Metal door unlocks— click… krrk…
Gate pushes open— creeeeak—
He steps inside.
The cell is simple.
Concrete floor… a bed… a small sink in the corner.
And in the center—
Arata.
Doing push-ups.
Body tight… muscles contracting— thud… push… thud… push…
Breathing controlled— hh— hh—
Hayashi walks in and sits directly on the bed.
The spring compresses slightly— ffth—
Arata notices.
But doesn’t react immediately.
One last rep— thud—
Then he rises.
Stands straight.
Moves to the opposite bed… sits.
Eye contact locks.
“Go on… Rokura Hayashi… what offer have you brought?”
His tone calm… completely steady.
A slight smirk appears on Hayashi’s lips.
“You knew I’d come… Arata.”
Arata gives a side glance.
Slides his hand under the bed strip…
Pulls out a cigarette pack… along with a lighter.
One stick slides out— shff—
Held between his lips.
Lighter flick— tick… tkk…
Flame catches— fsshh—
A deep puff— sss—
Smoke spirals in front of his face… then dissolves into the air.
“Yeah… I knew you’d come.”
The words leave with the exhale.
“I heard… your research finally worked.”
“Yeah…”
Hayashi leans slightly forward.
“And supply has already started in Tokyo.”
Arata holds the cigarette between his fingers… ash drops lightly— tkk—
“So… what’s my role in this?”
Hayashi’s expression sharpens slightly.
Eyes focused.
“It’s a big deal… and I might need you for it.”
Silence.
A second stretches.
Smoke drifts slowly between them.
Arata’s eyes narrow slightly…
Then—a faint smile.
The decision is already made.
“Alright…”
A short pause.
“I’ll come.”
The air inside the cell turns heavy.
The café glows under warm yellow lights. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Steam rises from the coffee machine— pssshhh—
Cups clink softly— ting…
People talk quietly at their tables… but one corner feels different.
Heavier.
Masaki is already seated there.
Back straight… fingers resting lightly on the table— tap… tap…
His gaze is fixed outside, through the glass panel.
Cars pass— vrrmmm…
The chair across from him pulls— scrrr—
A figure sits down.
Face fully covered by a mask.
Even the eyes sit half-hidden in shadow.
Presence low… but intent sharp.
Masaki shifts his gaze to him.
A quick assessment.
“Speak.”
Direct.
No greeting.
The masked person leans forward slightly.
Voice muffled… but clear.
“This drug… has spread through the entire community like a virus…”
The background noise seems to fade.
“People are using it for revenge… or to eliminate bounty targets…”
Masaki’s eyes narrow slightly.
He glances out the window again.
A passerby walks by… laughing…
Normal life continues.
The contrast feels sharp.
“Where do I find it?”
The masked figure answers immediately—
“Underground street fights.”
A short pause.
“Where bets are placed on fighters.”
Masaki’s fingers press lightly against the table— tap—
“Got it.”
Calm tone.
Decision already made.
Time shifts.
Under the cold fluorescent light, the white bathroom tiles shine with an unsettling glare.
The ceiling light flickers for a second— tzz… The silence is broken only by the steady drip of water— tik… tik… A thin layer of condensation blurs the mirror, making reflections hazy… distorted.
Ikumi stands quietly near the sink.
Slowly… he reaches into his pocket.
Pulls out two injections.
The transparent liquid inside catches the light— gleaming in an ominous way.
Aoi reacts instantly.
His eyebrows lift in surprise.
“What is that, Ikumi…?”
His voice carries clear caution.
Ikumi slowly turns his head toward him.
A twisted… almost psychotic smile spreads across his lips.
His eyes—unstable… dangerous… excited.
“Ha… haha…”
A dry, hollow laugh escapes him.
“This medicine… will make us stronger than even Masaki’s brother…”
The moment Masaki’s brother is mentioned—
Aoi’s fear vanishes.
Replaced instantly—
By dark excitement.
“What… really?”
“Yeah… brother.”
Ikumi extends one injection toward him.
Plastic creaks faintly— krrk—
Aoi grabs it without hesitation.
Grip tight.
“Give it… I want it too…”
Both of them roll up their sleeves.
Skin exposed.
The sharp needle tip reflects the light— ting…
A heavy pause.
Dead still.
Then—
Push.
The needle pierces flesh— tchh—
Cold liquid floods directly into their bloodstream.
The next second—
Impact.
Brutal.
Their bodies react violently.
Veins bulge beneath their skin… crawling outward.
Breathing turns erratic— hh— hh—
Aoi’s hand trembles uncontrollably.
Ikumi lets out a strained, broken sound—
“Nnnh—”
Muscles tighten unnaturally.
Control—gone.
Their knees collapse.
Bodies slam onto the floor— thud—
Hands press against the cold tiles… nails scraping— scrkk—
Their bodies jerk violently.
Eyes wide open.
Pupils shaking… caught between fear—
And intoxication of power.
The silence becomes suffocating.
Only their broken breathing remains…
And the endless drip— tik… tik…
Elsewhere—
The canteen.
Normal noise fills the space.
Plates clink… students chatter loudly… chairs scrape— scrrr…
Everything feels… ordinary.
Then—
Something shifts.
Near the entrance…
The air turns heavy.
Cold.
Ikumi and Aoi step in.
Their footsteps—
Not slow.
Not rushed.
Just unnaturally steady— tap… tap…
Their faces—
Dead serious.
Emotionless.
Their eyes scan the crowd like a radar…
Searching.
Locking.
They stop at the center of the canteen.
Students nearby notice the strange aura…
But no one understands yet.
Near the door—
Ren and Yeamori stand.
Completely unaware.
Ren turns slightly toward her…
Looking into her eyes—
“Yeamori… I—”
Before he can finish—
Ikumi moves.
Explosive.
Inhuman speed.
In a blink—
He reaches a nearby table.
His fingers grip the heavy metal edges— krrk—
And in one monstrous motion—
He lifts it.
Effortless.
Then—
Throws it straight toward Ren and Yeamori. Get faster updates on g.com.
The table tears through the air—
A violent sound ripping across the space—
WHOOOSH— whsshhh—
Ren’s eyes widen as the massive table tears through the air toward them.
No time to think.
Before his mind can process—his body reacts.
Instinct.
He moves fast.
Grabs Yeamori’s hand—pulls her hard into him—wraps her in a tight embrace.
In the same motion, he twists his body—
His back facing the incoming impact.
DULL—THUD!
The heavy wood and metal slam straight into Ren’s back.
The force is brutal.
For a second—his lungs empty completely—
“Nn—!”
His eyes shut tight from the pain.
But his arms—
Tighten even more around Yeamori.
Protecting.
Shielding.
The impact throws them backward.
They crash into the door frame—
CRACK!
—and fall out into the corridor—
DHAD!
A heavy second of silence—
Then chaos explodes.
Inside the canteen—
Students scream—
“Run—!”
“What the hell is happening—?!”
Panic erupts.
Footsteps collide— tap—tap—tap—
Within seconds—
The crowded canteen empties.
In the corridor—
Ren still holds Yeamori in his arms.
Slowly… painfully… he opens his eyes.
Pain is visible on his face—
But his first glance—
Is at her.
“You’re not hurt… right…?”
Yeamori is still in shock.
Breathing fast.
“N-no… I’m fine… but you—”
“No.”
Short.
Controlled.
Pain buried.
Then—
Ren realizes.
He’s on top of her.
Too close.
Their faces inches apart.
He immediately pulls back—stands up quickly.
A faint warmth rises on his cheeks.
His gaze shifts slightly… awkward—
“Sorry… I—”
But Yeamori isn’t listening.
Her eyes are locked on the dark canteen entrance.
Ikumi.
Aoi.
Standing there.
Bodies tense.
Breathing heavy—
Like beasts.
“What happened to them…? Where did that strength come from…?”
Fear.
Confusion.
Ren’s expression changes instantly.
Awkwardness—gone.
Replaced by cold, deadly focus.
Decision made.
“Let’s go. First—we get out of here.”
He grabs her hand—firm but controlled.
They move quickly across the hallway— tap… tap…
He stops at a nearby classroom.
Handle turns— click
Door opens.
He pushes her inside.
“But why are we—”
THUD!
The door shuts in her face.
Lock— krrk.
Yeamori rushes to the glass panel.
Grabs the handle— khrrk!
“What are you doing?!”
Ren stands just outside for a second.
One hand resting calmly on the door frame.
Forehead slightly lowered.
His voice—cold.
Protective.
“Sorry… Yeamori. Safety first.”
He turns.
Walks away.
Now—
His steps are heavier.
Dangerous— tap… tap…
At the canteen entrance—
Ikumi and Aoi push forward.
Movements wild.
Uncontrolled.
Like predators unleashed.
Then—
Impact.
Sudden.
Explosive.
Ren dashes forward—
At insane speed.
A leap—
WHSSHH!
And—
A FULL FORCE KICK.
BOOOOM!
The impact is devastating.
Both Ikumi and Aoi are launched into the air—
Bodies thrown back into the canteen—
CRASH—!
They slam across the floor—
CHRRRKK!
Tables shake violently.
Chairs flip—
CLANG!
Dust rises.
Echoes linger.
And in the doorway—
Ren lands.
Perfect.
Feet planted— thud.
Posture straight.
Unshaken.
His eyes—
Sharp BurningBreath steady Ready.
—Chapter 9 end —
Author’s Note
Before you begin this journey, I want to say one thing to all the readers and supporters—
The world and version of Japan shown in this story are completely fictional.
Everything here is part of my imagination, created only for storytelling and entertainment.
The gangs, underworld politics, cities, conflicts, and events in this universe are not meant to represent reality.
This is simply a world I created in my mind… and I hope you’ll step into it and experience the journey alongside these characters.
Thank you for giving my imagination a place in your time and heart.❤️